Our Gang
ALFALFA, CHILD STAR, IS KILLED ON COAST NORTH HOLLYWOOD Calif. Jan. 21 (AP) - Carl Switzer, freckle-faced Alfalfa of the "Our Gang" comedy series, was shot and killed tonight by a friend in an apparent argument over money, the police said.
The off-key singer of the "Our Gang" series was shot in the abdomen by a friend, Bud Stills the police reported.
The shooting was preceded by a quarrel over finances involving a bear hunting guide business in which Mr. Stills and Mr. Switzer were partners.
Mr. Switzer, 32 years old, accompanied by a friend identified as Jack Pilott, confronted Mr.
Stills in this San Fernando Valley community and argued with him about an unpaid debt.
Detective H. C. Clark said there was a struggle for a pistol. It discharged, resulting in Mr. Switzer's death, he said.
Until last October Mr. Switzer worked as a bartender in the "Wolfe's Den" in near-by studio city.
He appears in the current picture "The Defiant Ones." Mr. Switzer's pictures included "General Spanky," "Scandal Street," "Barnyard follies," Reg'lar Fellows," "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage patch," "Going My Way," "State of the Union," "High and the Mighty," and "Dig That Uranium."

The Evening Bulletin - Thursday, January 22, 1959 Alfalfa, "Our Gang" Star, Is Killed In Fight With Friend Over $50 Debt
North Hollywood, Calif. Jan. 22 - (UPI) - Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer, 31, the freckled child actor in the old "Our Gang" movies, was shot and killed last night in a battle over a $50 debt.
His former business partner was booked on suspicion of murder today.
Switzer, who played "Alfalfa", the character in the old series currently being rerun across the nation on television as "The Little Rascals," was shot in the stomach by M. S. (Bud) Stiltz, police reported.
Stiltz, a welder, said the former juvenile star, who in recent years was down on his luck, was threatening him with a knife when he shot him.
Badly Beaten Stiltz, badly beaten, said Switzer and a friend, Jack Piott, 37, came to the home of Mrs. Rita Corrigan, 38, former wife of stunt man Crash Corrigan, where he was staying and began banging on the door.
"Let me in," Stiltz, said Switzer demanded, "or I'll kick in the door." Stiltz opened the door to Switzer and Piott.
"I want that 50 bucks you owe me now, and I mean now." Switzer said to Stiltz, his former partner in a bear hunting scheme in which Switzer worked as a guide - one of the varied jobs at which he worked during recent years.
The two men got into a violent argument over the debt involving a reward for the finding of Stiltz's missing dog, then began fighting.
Hit With Clock During the fight Switzer grabbed a glass-domed clock from a dresser in a bedroom and smashed it on Stiltz's head, Stiltz said.
Stiltz, who was bloodied and had a blackened left eye and a bandage over his right eye, grabbed a gun from a dresser drawer and Switzer made a lunge for it. They wrestled into the living room and the gun went off, the bullet smacking into the ceiling without hitting anyone.
Mrs. Corrigan and her three children, a boy, 14, and two girls aged 12 and 13, who had been in the house during the fight, fled to a neighbor's home to call police.
Switzer, according to Stiltz, got possession of the gun briefly but Stiltz got it back.
Switzer drew a knife and screamed, "I'm going to kill you, you ----," Stiltz said.
"I took the gun away from Alfalfa and he threw the knife at me," Stiltz said. "That's when I shot him." A knife was found beside Switzer's body on the living room floor of the ranch-style home.
Stiltz, who said he knew Switzer for about a year and a half, told police, "Alfalfa wanted me to pay him the reward money. Originally he said it was $25 and at one time it was up to $75." Switzer once was arrested for cutting down Christmas trees in Sequoia National Forest where he had worked as a guide. The actor, who couldn't seem to adjust to a humdrum adult life after his early success, pleaded guilty to the charge and paid a $225 fine. He was given a suspended 30-day jail sentence and placed on probation for one year December 12.
Shot Once Before A year ago, Switzer suffered a flesh wound in a shooting by an unknown assailant in front of a bar in the San Fernando Valley.
Later, in 1958, he attempted suicide.
Switzer never earned a cent from the numerous reruns of the "Our Gang" series on television.
He was only seven when he signed up with Gordon Douglas, then director of the "Our Gang" comedies, produced by Hal Roach.
Switzer's latest role was in the film, "The Defiant Ones," starring Tony Curtis. He played a top-featured comedy-relief part.
New York Times - Friday, January 23, 1959 Hunting Guide Accused Charged with Murder in Death of Alfalfa, Once a Child Star
Hollywood, Jan. 22 - (UPI) - A murder complaint was filed today in the death of Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer, freckle-faced member of the "Our Gang" movie series, who was shot to death last night.
Mr. Switzer, 32 years old, a leading figure in the film series now being shown on television as "The Little Rascals," was shot in the stomach by M. S. (Bud) Stiltz, a hunting guide. Mr. Stiltz will be arraigned Jan. 30.
Mr. Stiltz said Mr. Switzer had drawn a knife and that he had shot in self defense. Jack Piott, 37, who was trying to help Mr. Switzer collect a $50 debt from Mr. Stiltz, contended that Mr.
Switzer had been unarmed. A knife was found underneath Mr. Switzer's body.

New York Times - January 27, 1959 KILLING HELD JUSTIFIED Suspect Cleared in Shooting of "Our Gang" Comedy Star
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 (AP) - The shooting of Carl Switzer, a film actor, during a fight over $50 was justifiable homicide, a coroner's jury ruled today.
Mr. Switzer, 32 years old, knows as Alfalfa, was famed for his role in the "Our Gang" comedy films of a generation ago. They now are on television. Mr. Switzer was a bit player in recent years.
Moses S. Stiltz, 38, a welder testified: "Alfie charged me with a jackknife. I was forced to shoot, and he closed the knife as he fell to the floor." Testimony brought out that Mr. Switzer and a friend, Jack Piott, 37 had been drinking before they sought out Mr. Stiltz last Wednesday night.
They found him at a friend's home and Mr.
Switzer demanded $50 that he contended Mr.
Stiltz owed him. Mr. Stiltz denied any debt.
They scuffled and Mr. Stiltz got a gun. He said he fired in self defense. Charges against him were dismissed.